With that in mind, let's take a closer look at Rio Tinto's business and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

Rio Tinto facts

Headquarters (founded)

London (1873)

Market Cap

$80.0 billion

Industry

Diversified metals and mining

Trailing-12-Month Revenue

$56.8 billion

Management

CEO Tom Albanese (since 2007)CFO Guy Elliott (since 2002)

Return on Equity (average, past 3 years)

21.7%

Cash / Debt

$7.8 billion / $21.2 billion

Dividend Yield

3.4%

Competitors

Anglo AmericanBHPBillitonVale

Sources: S&P Capital IQ and Motley Fool CAPS.

On CAPS, 96% of the 1,659 members who have rated Rio Tinto believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward.

A few months ago, one of those bulls, mwlove, tapped Rio Tinto as a particularly solid bargain opportunity:

All those car factories being built in China need steel. [W]ho will provide the iron ore? ... The sell-off on short-term drops in ore shipments has received absurd levels here, and a rebound is on tap. Great company, big dividend, and bigger prospects over the long haul.

If you want market-beating returns, you need to put together the best portfolio you can. Owning exceptional stocks is a surefire way to secure your financial future. Of course, despite a strong four-star rating, Rio Tinto may not be your top choice.